Do teachers just suck these days?

I couldn't agree with you more. I personally just love the parents who think it couldn't be there kid. (joking of course) As a parent, I know those other parents...believe you me. Last year my son who used a laptop at school was at lunch and had his book bag (with laptop) (appropriate book bag for a laptop) in the pile with all the other book bags. There was a student kicking rocks off his sneaker nearby. Rocks...I mean boulders... and the boulder he managed to flick off his foot like a soccer ball landed on the book bag and broke his brand new laptop. When my son ran over the to check his computer, the student laughed at him and didn't apologize. I called the parent and she blamed my son for having a laptop at school. Said that he should not have had the laptop at school. She said her son is free to kick rocks anywhere he pleases. That is the type of behavior I am sure you are referring to. On another note, I think if teachers refused to work for these warped school systems and only chose private, or charter schools (where most believe they are much happier at) and not be so stuck to tenure, than the schools would have to change their act. In my experience, there are teachers with tenure who just don't want to leave the security for someplace more pleasant.

Private schools have a similar issue. It the philosophy of how children should be schooled that is fundamentally flawed. There are virtual schools that really give you the flexibility of homeschooling but there are dedicated teachers who you can consult with for assistance. Also, a great interactive rich curriculum. Charter schools I found to be amazing as well. They have to perform, otherwise they get shut down. They do whatever it takes to reach the child. Not ALL but many of them. They even go as far as holiday Saturday school for those who require additional help. Like I said, whatever it takes is their motto. Good luck for next year!

well it maybe possible in us...but in countries like india where there is a very high population a teacher in an average school has to handle about 60-70 students by himself so there is a student techer ratio of 60:1...

Not all USA schools have a 10-20 student to teach ratio. In California, there can be more than 40 per teacher. Still better than a lot of countries, though.

Congratulations! It sounds like your parents are a true gift to the world. Those are the good ones and there are some, don't get me wrong. I LOVE GOOD TEACHERS!

With soo many distractions around nowadays, I feel having good teachers does not help... The world has become more complex and I shudder to think the way my children will comeup

i agree wid u

You make great points. I agree with the baby sitter thing. I believe it is a direct result of our schooling. You see, schools were initiated to create rule followers. To develop good factory workers in the industrial age. It was necessary to the function of our society. Well it is now the information age and we have not adjusted what we are teaching and how. We as parents are doing what we are told. Send your kids to school and let the government teach them. We took that to the extreme and are no longer taking responsibility for educating our children. We are sitting back blaming the government for the lack of success. I am sorry, but it really isn't the schools fault that your child can't read when he graduates high school. It is yours. You live with him. If he couldn't learn in school, it was your responsibility to teach him. It has always been your responsibility to teach him, you were just following the rules like you've been taught. It is time to shift gears.

That sounds like the same Catholic School I attended...lol

That is part of it. I agree. But you can have 20 students ready, willing, and able to learn, and be completely unstimulated. The other pet peeve about schools is when they use the bright kids to be the example to the children who are working below or at grade level. Telling a student who finished early to help others is being lazy. They are all their for an education and while occasionally asking a child who is done to assist one who is not is okay, that habit only drags down my child. He is totally unstimulated and he never gets an opportunity to grow. In life (the real world) we naturally gravitate to those who are at our own level or above so we can grow. How do you expect the bright child to benefit from that?

I couldn't agree with you more. That is why I decided to bring my kids home and teach them myself. It isn't easy, in fact I see how difficult it is to keep kids interested and stimulated, not to mention 20-40 students at time. That is what studying to be a teacher is all about. Learning how to teach to a group of different types of learners. I agree so many parents just send their kids to school to get them out of the house. This must be very difficult for the teacher who's parents never participate in their child's education. I still blame the schools and teacher's having said that. School systems more than teachers, although just because you want to teach doesn't mean you can. School systems who beat down new teachers into being mediocre should be shut down. Anyway...that's my rant

Be careful, because the school system you are describing sounds like the USA system. Not the freedom and happy environment you are fantasizing about. Sounds like your country is giving you a great gift though, self motivated learning... maybe, maybe not. Just remember the grass is not always greener on the other side.